Best XI Selections.....

The first batch of your favourite players.

John Walker, St Neots Town`s club President, has been involved with the Saints for many years and has chosen his select squad.

“I have trawled through club records for the past twenty years to come up with a ‘select squad’ of players who have left a significant mark on the history of St Neots Town Football Club (now 141 years in being).

It was not an easy task compounded by the progress the club has made in the football pyramid during that period.

That has resulted in a high turnover of personnel as the club has increased in both standard and competition.

Eleven of those seasons (2000/01 - 2010/11) were spent at Step 5 (United Counties League Premier Division), two seasons (2011/12 and 2019/20) at Step 4 (Southern League Division One) and the remaining seven seasons (2012/13 – 2018/19) in the Southern League Premier Division.

There has been an average of around 45 players featured in the first team each season ranging from just 33 in 2017/18 to 52 in 2015/16 so the scope of those eligible to be considered in enormous.

The numbers were also influenced by the seasons where no reserve team was run.

(Stats where quoted (a) appearances (s) substitute appearances (g) goals)

Michael DUGGAN (2011/12 – 2012/13)
The goalkeeping choice was difficult because most of them have been a seasonal choice (less turnover). However, Michael made 75 appearances and was almost ever present in the promotion season to Step 3. Had he distinction of being sent-off in the club’s first-ever Southern League match at Chesham United.

Paul BLOSS (2001/02 to 2004/05)
Paul was a no-nonsense attacking full-back who scored some significant goals from his defensive position. Twenty-eight goals in four seasons was as many as some strikers achieved.

Rene STEER (2011/12 – 2013/14)
52 (s) 0 (g) 3 - Not many goals but his screamer at Bedworth still regarded as one of St Neots best goals in the Southern League

Ian HORNBY (2001/02 – 2002/03)
The ‘ironman’ – a Serviceman based locally reputed never to have pulled out of a tackle. Always first at the club on training night and someone almost revered by the fans.

Glen FUFF (2008/09 – 2010/11)
One of the best-ever players who progressed from the local Hunts League with Offords United to Step 5 football. Known as ‘Mr Dependable’. He did not play in the Southern League having seen the club to the UCL title and promotion.

Jordan GENT (2009/10 – 2012/13)
101 (s) 19 (g) 9 – He was the first significant player to progress from the youth system at the club into the first team serving his apprenticeship on the substitutes bench before progressing to a higher level.

Lewis HILLIARD (2010/11 – 2014/15)
(a) 231 (s) 21 (g) 72 - Probably the most significant player in the Southern League history of the club. He won a UCL championship medal, a Red Insure Cup winners medal and three Huntingdonshire Senior Cup winners medals scoring in two of those winning finals. In 2013/14 he did a clean sweep of club awards winning the managers’, players`and supporters` player of the year and leading first team scorer. He played under five different managers.

Jon HOGGETT (2003/04 – 2006/07)
A forceful club skipper both on and off the field. A genuine midfield ‘ball winner’ who earned the respect of both colleagues and opponents alike. Only scored eleven goals in four seasons but most of those were significant.

Stefan MOORE (2010/11 – 2012/13)
(a) 103 (s) 3 (g) 90 – Difficult to quantify his outstanding contribution to St Neots’ progress up the pyramid. Brought in to add firepower to club’s desire to progress, Stefan scored just 3 minutes into his debut for the club in an FA Vase tie and four in his first match in a 9-0 victory! And that sort of form continued unabated to run up a tally of 90 goals for the club until he requested his release due to personal problems.

Shane TOLLEY (2010/11 – 2011/12)
(a) 76 (s) 15 (g) 76 – An outstanding striker who stayed far too short a time before moving for employment abroad. Scored seven hat-tricks or better despite being in the same side as Stefan Moore.

Steve KUHNE (2001/02 – 2003/04 and 2005/06 – 2007/08)
An outstanding career with the club in two spells as player, player-manager and later as manager. Scorer 156 goals including leading scorer on three occasions. Would have got into any other side as first choice number nine but impossible not to include him in my ‘starting X1.

Subs
Junior KONADU (2010/11 – 2012/13)
(a) 75 (s) 18 (g) 7 - A player with unique and almost mesmeric skill who became a firm favourite during his relatively short spell at the club

Dan JACOB (2009/10 – 2012/13)
Probably the unluckiest player not to make the starting line-up. An inspirational cog in the side when Messrs Moore, Tolley and Mackey were creating history and scoring goals for fun.

Wes BYRNE (2000/01 – 2002/03)
A striker with a real eye for goal and a reputation for doing so wherever he played. He scored 56 goals in a relatively brief career and after his playing career ended he is still a regular spectator at his former clubs.

Ben MACKEY (2011/12 – 2012/13)
(a) 55 (s) 3 (g) 44 – An inspirational goalscorer who supplemented St Neots upward progress in the football pyramid. Burst on to the scene when St Neots were at their most potent in terms of scoring goals and had the ability and temerity to outscore Stefan Moore in the 2012/13 season.

Luke McSHANE (2008/09 – 2010/11)

(a) 80 – Every good squad must include a substitute goalkeeper and Luke was the keeper that helped to pilot St Neots in an upward direction. In two successive seasons he let in less than a goal a game and has the record for featuring in the best defensive record of a St Neots team in recent seasons – only 26 goals conceded in 40 league matches in 2009/10 – and they only finished runners-up to Daventry Town!

MANAGER

Matt CLEMENTS (2016/17 – 2019/20)
Gets the nod over the others because he was in charge for the greatest number of matches in the 21st Century - 116 matches before moving on to become Director of Football at the club. In all between 2000 and 2020 the club have had no fewer than 26 Managers or Management teams, but some explanation is required. That includes very temporary spells (Mike Kearns – 2 matches), (Lee Clarke – 3 matches) and multiple spells in the hot-seat (Iain Parr – 3 times), Gary King – twice), and Chris Howell – twice).

Bob Wallace from Sevenoaks in Kent has submitted the following from his many years following Ashford Town and also Tonbridge.

I am old enough to remember when Ashford achieved their record Southern League win in February 1964, beating Barry Town 10–1.

In goal, I have gone for Tony Godden (*pictured), who played for Ashford from 1972 until 1975 when he moved to West Brom and enjoyed a long and successful career at the top levels of the game.

Another great favourite of mine was Gordon Burden. He had three or four spells with the Nuts & Bolts, including one as player-manager.

Ashford finished third in the Southern Division One South in 72/73 and big Alan Morton set a club record scoring 46 goals in 69 games – a record which stood for over 40 years.

Dave Arter was another terrific goalscorer and netted just under 200 for the club as well as many more for several other Kent clubs.

Peter McRobert was a rock-solid defender for Ashford and is the club`s record appearance holder with 765 games to his name.

Another from the McRobert family, striker Lee, scored over 100 goals for the Nuts & Bolts and in the mid 90’s moved to Millwall for £35,000, where he scored on his debut against Charlton Athletic.

Frank Ovard had several spells with Ashford and was a terrific forward who made his name at Maidstone United.

Neil Cugley was a fine centre-back as well as a now proven manager.

Tonbridge spent quite a time in the Kent League during my watching days.

However, I loved seeing the Emblen brothers Phil and Neil, who would have graced most teams.

Colin Blewden and Mark Gillham were both Tonbridge favourites.

John Carter from Cambridge is now a City supporter but back in the 60s and early 70s he mostly followed United until he got disillusioned with the style of play in the Football League, especially under John Beck.

He has selected eleven players, albeit not a squad – but the best he saw play:

Rodney Slack in goal – a long-serving and hugely popular keeper at United.

Bill Cassidy was a brilliant footballer who perhaps could have played at a higher level.

Terry Eades was a defender who came with Cassidy and two others from Chelmsford and was a really solid defender.

Steve Fallon was Ron Atkinson`s first signing but I have picked him for his many years with City as a defender and manager.

Brian Grant was a 100 per centre as a left-back, and George Harris was a winger who also scored goals.

Cliff Jones wasn`t with City for long but it was clear to see the ex-Spurs and Wales star`s quality.

Gary Grogan was a consistent performer in attack for City and also managed the team for a spell, and Mel Slack was a tough-tackling defender or midfielder who played for both United and City.

A little more recently, Kevin Wilkin was a favourite of mine in his four years with City and the former forward has gone on to make a good job in management with Brackley Town.

And my final selection has to be Eddie Bailham, who was a tremendous forward who had two spells with City in the 60s and 70s.

Sean Hackett is a Hednesford Town supporter and as gone through the team through the seasons the Pitmen were in the Southern League and come up with the following 3/5/2 selection:

Goalkeeper
Dan Crane

Back three of:
Ben Bailey
Ashley Williams
James Hurst

Across the middle:
Darren Campion
Elliott Durrell
Brendan Hackett
Jamey Osborne
Osebi Abadaki

Up front:
Joe O`Connor
Steve Burr